A day after Tim Hudson had back stiffness in one of the worst starts of his major league career, manager Fredi Gonzalez said it was too soon to know if the veteran pitcher would be able to make his next scheduled start Wednesday in Pittsburgh.

Hudson allowed eight runs, seven hits and three walks in 3-2/3 innings of Friday night's 9-0 loss to the Angels, the first time in his career that he allowed as many as eight earned runs in fewer than five innings. He also hit three batters to match a career high, and his ERA rose by nearly a run, from 3.03 to 3.95.

Gonzalez said afterward that Hudson had lower-back tightness during the game. Hudson later confirmed that, but wouldn't elaborate or use it as an excuse. He said he would do everything he could before Wednesday to try to make the start.